Cigar bunching machine



(No Model.) 4'sneets-sheen 1. J. DELA MAR.

GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE. No. 548,077. Patented Oct. 15, 1,895.

je :7 l .["h 4 i I' ,n.29 4 JUE 'H V l la L f 7.11- af .I mw a.; f ff ,2. f 'www 617 XK a \f "S 45 w/TNEssEs: I /NvE/voff @y ff ff/ www A TTUHNE Y (No Model.) 4 sheets-#Sheet 2.

J. DELA MAR.

GIGAR BUNGHING MAGHINl-J.v

No. 548,077. Patented Oct. 15,1895.

OH/VEY (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

v J. DELA MAR. GIGAR BUNGHING MAGHINB.

No. 548,077.. Patented oct. 15, 1895.

A :lli

INVENTO? www@ @wism (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J DELA MAR GIGAR BUNGHIN'G MAGHINE.

No. 548,077.v

Patented oet. 15, 1895.

V E N TOH MMM @29M W/TNESSES:

Nima TATES PATENT ritten.

JOSEPH DELA MAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEON KLEIN, OF SAME PLACE.

CIGAR-BUNCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,077, dated October 15, 1895. Application tiled April l5, 1895. Serial No. 545,717. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DELA MAR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Buuching Machines, ot which the following is a specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use ro the same.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a cigar-bunching machine of a new and improved form,of simple and cheap construction, which maybe operated by unskilled labor; second, to so construct such machine that right or left taper or straight bunches may be rolled thereon with ease and without readjustment of any of the parts; third, to make a machine in which the bunches,

zo whether straight or taper and although varying one from anotherin diameter, will all be of the same consistency throughout, and, fourth, to provide a machine of such form that when used by unskilled labor in connection with a suitable cigar-shaperfor shaping the. fillingtobaccobefore bunching all the bunches formed thereon will be of like form as well as of like consistency throughout, whereby the necessity of compressing the bunches in forming molds after the same are made is obviated and a bunch is formed that when wrapped and finished into a cigar cannot be told from the highest grade of handwork; and to such ends my invention consists of a suitably-supported rolling-bed, a bunching-roller vibrating, reciprocating, or moving to and fro over the same, a flexible bunch-rollingapron,which is also preferably highly elastic as well as liexible, means for tightening and stretching 4o the bunch-rolling apron as the bunchingroller is moved over the table in the operation of rolling, and means for slacking upon the forward end of the apron so as to permit such end to travel rearward with the bunching-roller upon the first movement of such roller as the bight is being closed,all as more fully shown and described in the following specification, of whichl the accompanying drawings form a part, wherein similar letters 5o and numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which- Figure l is a side view, partially in section, of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow of my improved cigar-bunching machine, showing the position assumed by the various parts at the moment of the placing of the filler-tobacco in position upon the binder-leaf and in the pocket of the bunch-rolling apron preparatory to rolling the same. Fig. 2 is a 6o similar view showing the position assumed by the working parts at the moment'of the closing of the pocket to form the bight of the bunch-rolling apron. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the position assumed by the working parts when the bight, with the inclosed bunch, has traveled nearly to the rear end of the rolling-table and the finished bunch is about to be deposited in the bunch-catcher upon the further movement of the bunching- 7oy roller; and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of such machine, the working parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2,the pocket having just been closed to form the pocket, a shaper for shaping the loose filler-tobacco being shown in position upon the table of the machine.

.,Figs. 5 and 6 are views in detail of the apron holders or clamps, to which are secured the ends of the bunch-rolling apron; land Fig. 7 is a view in detail of the spring which keeps 8o the reciprocating frame normally forced' forward.

In order to facilitate the description of the machine, that side of the table of the machine at which the operator sits will be called the front, and will be designated by the reference-letter V,while the side opposite to such front side will be termed the rear, and will be designated by the reference-letter W.

Referring to the drawings, the reference- 9o letter A designates a suitable frame supporting a table B. v

C is the rolling-table frame supported by the table B.

D is the rolling-table.

E is the bunch-rolling apron.

F is the bunching-roller.

G is the reciprocating frame carrying the bunching-rol'ler F.

. H is the forward and I the rear vibrating roo apron holder or clamp to which the ends of the apron E are secured.

K is 'disconnecting-rod, which forms an operative connection between such apron holders or clamps H and I, and L is the connectng-rod operatively connecting the clamp or holder I with the reciprocating frame G.

M is the shaft supporting the lower `end of the frame G. l

0 is a Shaper secured upon the tableB, in which the filler-tobacco is formed or shaped into a loose cigar-shaped bunch P preparatory to placing the same upon the binder-leaf Q and in the pocket R' of the bunch-rolling apron, which, when, closed, forms the bunchrolling bight R.

The table B is preferably formed of wood and of the shape shown, being provided with upwardly-extending side'and back pieces l and 2, and the frame A, upon which such table B is supported, is preferably of the shape shown, and formed of cast-iron or other suitable metal, and the other parts of the machine, with the exception of the flexible bunch-rolling apron E, are also preferably of cast-iron, steel, or brass, as may in each case be deemed best.

Formed in and through the top of the table B, at or near the center thereof, as shown, is a suitable hole or perforation, preferably rectangular in form and of slightly smaller size than is the rolling-table frame C, which is secured upon the table B over such perforation, preferably by means of suitable screws 3. Such rolling-table frame C is preferably of substantially the shape and form shown, having an upwardly-extending flange 4 at the rear end, a similar side flange 5 extending from the flange 4 along each side of such frame toward the front, and two short flanges G extending inward from the end of the flanges 5 at the front end a short distance and merging with two longitudinal flanges or girders 7, which run parallel with the anges 5 about an inch inside of the same the entire length of the frame C, as shown, so as to leave a guideway or slot 13 in and through the frame from the front flanges 6 to the rear ange 4. The girders 7 extend two or three inches forward of the flanges 6 and curve upward, rising forward of such flanges to aboutdoublethe height thereof, as shown at 8, and. the end of the frame C being closed by an end iange 9 of the same height as the side extensions 8, and the central portion of the girders 7 are higher than the end portions, and the top thereof ,is formed of the saine 4curve as is the top of the rolling-table D, and 1 such girders are preferably provided on the: inner side with suitable inwardly-extending? studs or lugs 10,11, and 12, the tops of which i are located the thickness of the curved plate forming the rolling-table D below the top t edges of the girders `7, so that such rolling- 1 table D, being of the same width as the spacci between the girders 7, will .when in position rest upon such studs or lugs 10, 11, and 12,

and the upper curved surface will be flush with the curved top of such girders 7, as shown.

The frame C may of course be formed of any suitable material, but is preferably formed of a single piece of iron cast into the shape shown. The box-like cavity formed by the high forward portions S of the girders 7 and the end flange 9 is preferably kept normally closed at the top by a suitable hinged or pivoted cover 14, formed, preferably, of sheetbrass, and when such cover is raised up into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 access to the forward end of the apron and to the holder or clamp H to which the end thereof is secured is easy, and like access may be had to the rear holder or clamp I simply by lifting the rolling-bed D from its normal position in the frame C, where it is held by the force of gravity alone. Mounted at the ends in the `girders 7 in any desired manner, or, it' desired, cast integral with the frame C, and extending from girder to girder near the rear ends thereof, is a cross-bar 15, to which are secured in any desired manner fingers 16, formed, preferably, of sheet metal, which serve as a bunch-catcher, in which is deposited the finished bunch, and located just forward of the cross-bar 15 and extending from girder to girder parallel therewith and revolubly mounted at the ends in such girders is a roller 17, over which roller and between which and the cross-bar 15 passes the rear end of the bunch-rolling apron E to a point beneath the rolling-table, where it is secured to the rear holder or clamp I.

The front apron-holder or clamp I-I, to which is secured the forward end of the bunch-rolling apron E, is `preferably of the shape shown in detail in Fig. 5, consisting of a crossfbar 18, provided at either end with downwardlydepending side pieces 19, preferably of the shape shown, and provided at the lower ends with suitable holes, through which pass a suitable rod or shaft 20, supported at the ends in downwardly-depending lugs or projections, formed integral with the girders 7 in such manner that the clamp or holder will move or vibrate freely back and forth upon such shaft or rod as a pivot.` The cross-bar 1S is preferably provided ateither end, as shown in Fig. 4, with outwardly-projecting studs or pins 22, which extend outward over the girders 7 in such manner as to come into contact with the rearward curved edge of the forward high portion 8 of the girders 7 when such holder or clamp is swung towardthe front of the niachin-e, and thus prevent the said holder or clamp H from swinging forward beyond the point shown in Fig. 1. Removably attached to the crossbar 18 of the forward clamp or holder H in any desired manner, preferably by means of two screws 23, is a bar 24, of substantially the same length as the cross-bar, and when thelparts are in position the forward end of the `bunch-rolling apron E is tightly clamped in the clamp thus formed by the bars IOO 18 and 24, as shown, or, if preferred, the end of the apron E may be secured to the crossbar 18 in any other convenient manner.

The rear holder or clamp I diers preferably in form from the holder or clamp H, consisting, preferably, of a cross-bar 25, provided at either end with side pieces 26, also con'- nected together at the bottom by a rod or bar 27, having a downwardly-depending lever 28, such cross-bar 25, side pieces 26, rod or bar 27, and lever 28 being preferably formed integral with one another by being cast of one piece of metal, and the rod or bar 27 being revolubly supported at the ends by suitable downwardly-depending lugs 29, formed integral with the girders 7, preferably by the insertion through screw-threaded holes formed in such lugs of suitable screws, pointed at the ends, so as to enter suitable sockets or holes formed to receive them in the ends of such rod or bar 27, thus forming pivots therefor, as shown in Fig. 6, and the rear end of the apron E is secured to the clamp or holder I in the same manner as is the forward end of such apron to the holder H by fastening the apron tightly between the cross-bar 25 and a bar 30 of the same form as the bar 24, which bar 30 is secured to the cross-bar 25 by suitable screws 3l.

Pivotally secured to the forward holder or clamp I-I, preferably by means of a suitable pivot bolt or screw 32, secured to one of the side pieces 19 thereof, is the connecting-rod K, which is provided at its rearward end with an elongated slot 33, through which passes a suitable pivot bolt or screw 34, by-which such rod is connected with the rear holder or clamp I, preferably by being screwed or otherwise rmly fastened to the inner side of one of the side pieces 26 of such holder or clamp in the same manner as is the bolt or screw 32 to one of the side pieces I9 of the forward holder H, and the slot 33 is of such width as to permit of free movement of the bolt or screw 34 along the same.

The rolling-table E is preferably formed of a thin piece of metal, castor otherwise formed into the shape shown, having at the forward en d the downwardly-depending front piece 35, and at the center on the under side and at each side of the table two downwardly-de-- pending lugs 36, so spaced as to just permit of the upper end of the lugs Il entering between them, such lugs 36 thus serving to hold the rolling-table firmly against displacement when once the saine has been placed in position upon the rolling-table frame E.

The bunching-roller frame G consists, preferably,of a lower single central stud or upright, from which rises two side pieces G', forminga bifurcation or fork, and such side pieces G extend up through the slots 13 to a short distance above the rolling-table D, and are provided with suitable thumb-pieces 37. Revolubly supported at the ends in suitable bearings in the upper ends of the side pieces G is the bunching-roller F, which is located beneath the bunch-rolling apron E, as shown. The lower end of the frame G is supported by the frame A in such manner as to permit of reciprocation and vibration of the punching-roller over the rolling-table D preferably by being mounted upon a shaft M, supported at the ends in the frame A, so as to be partially revoluble therein; but in some cases the shaft M may be rigidly mounted in the frame A, and the frame G may be loosely mounted thereon; but I prefer to have the shaft rest in bearings and to have the frame G kept normallyin its eXtreme forward position, as shown in Fig. 1, by a suitable spring 40, as shown in detail in Fig. 7. I also prefer to connect the lower end of t-he frame ,G rigidly with the shaft M by a suitable T-shaped casting secured to such shaft and frame by suitable set screws 38 and 39.

The connecting-rod L is connected in any desired manner with the reciprocating or moving bunching-roller frame G, preferably by being pivotally mounted upon a suitable pivot-bolt 41, rigidly secured to the said frame G below the fork or bifurcation thereof, preferably by means of a suitable nut, as shown, and such connecting-rod L is provided at its rearward end with a suitable slot 42, through which passes a suitable bolt 43 of such size as to slide easily along such slot 42, which bolt is firmly secured tothe lever 28 in any desired manner, preferably by means of a suitable screw-nut, as shown. In order to render the apron-tightening mechanism easy of adjustment when it is desired to increase or diminish the amount of. the stretch or draw upon the bunch-rolling apron D, the pivot-bolt 41 is preferably passed throughl a suitable slot 44, preferably of the shape and location shown formed in andthrough the lower portion of the frame G, and when the bolt 4l is moved from the position shown in the drawings to the lower end of the slot 44, and there firmly secured in position by the tightening of the nut thereon, the stretchingpower of the vibrating holders upon the apron E will be con! siderably diminished.

The size of the pocket R, which when closed forms the'bunch-forming bight R of the apron D, may be regulated and increased or diminished in size by loosening the screws upon either of the holders or clamps, letting out or taking in such apron in the clamp formed by the cross-bars and bars, and again tightening up the screws so as to compress the apron between the cross-bar and bar thereof. v

While an apron of non-elastic fiexible ma= terial may be in some cases used in my improved bunching-machine, I prefer to make such apron elastic throughout its entire width, and it is formed of a cloth or fabric woven partly of threads of elastic india-rubber and partly of non-elastic threads of linen or similar material, such material being usually that IIO IZO

fabric used to form the elastic side pieces of what are commonly known as Congress shoes or gaiters.

The operation of the device is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, a suitable quantityof loose filler-tobacco is roughly formed into the shape of the cigarbunch desired to be formed by the machine, either by forminglthe same in the shaper Oor in any other desired manner, and the binderleaf Q having been placed 'in position upon the bunch-rolling apron E with one end thereof resting in the pocket R of such apron and the other extending rearward upon the apron, the loose bunch of `ller-tobaeco so shaped is placed in the pocket R and upon the end of such binder-leaf, as shown in Fig. l. The operator standing during this operation at the front U of the table B presses with his hand or thumb against one of the thumb-pieces 37 of the frame G and forces such frame rearward into the position shown in said Fig. l, when the bl1nchingroller, being carried rearward with the frame G, will pass over the forward end of the rolling-table D, so as to close the pocket R and form the bight R of such apron, and during this first rearward movement of the bunching-roller, the forward apron holder or clamp H will be rocked rearward by the friction of the apron E upon the bunching-roller into the position shown in Fig. 2, and this movement of such holder or clamp H pushes rearward the connecting-rod K until the bolt 34 reaches the forward end of the slot 33 in such rod K, and at thel same time the rearward movement of the upper portion of the frame G has pushed back the connecting-rod L until the lower end of the slot 42 comes against the bolt 43, when all the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The rearward movement of the frame G being continued, the connecting-rod L forces rearward with it the lever 28, and this of course forces forward the upper end of the pivoted rear apron holder or clamp I, of which the lever 28 l is a part, and this movement of such holderI draws the rear end of the apron E down over the roller 17in such manner as to stretch such apron in front of the advancing bunchingroller and bight, and this same forward movement of the upper portion of the holder I also carries forward the forward holder or clamp H by the pressure exerted upon the connectingrod K, and such movement of the holder or clamp H draws upon the forward end of the apron E in such manner as to tighten and stretch the same from the rear at the same moment that the holder or clamp I is drawing and stretching the same from the front, and as the bight and bunching-roller travel rearward over the rolling-table the filler-tobacco is rolled over and over in thebight and wrapped in the binderleaf with a gradually-increasin g pressure as the apron is tightened more and more bythe continued movementof the clamps or holders I-I and I as the frame G is pushed farther and farther rearward, and this Stretchcellence to the `best grade of hand-bunches will be quickly and easily formed.

The position assumed by the various working parts of the machine at the moment or just before the moment that the maximum of strain upon the apron E is reached is shown in Fig. 3, and the rearward movement of the frame G andthe bunching-roller carried thereby being continued a short distance beyond such pointzthe finished bunch will be deposited in the bunch-catcher formed `by the lingers 16 in the manner well known in cigar-bvunching machines of this class, and the momentthe frame G is released `from pressure the spring 40 will of course force the same back into the position shown in Fig. l, when the operation described may be at once repeated.

By allowing the forward end of the bunchrolling apron to move rearward with the bunching-roller upon the rst rearward movement `when the pocket `is being closed to form the bight, as shown, I am enabled to use a pocket of such small size as to cause the apron to be closed tight around the bunch of fillertobacco the instant such pocket is closed, and this is in many ways of great advantage, as otherwise, the pocket being loose when first closed, the drawing upon the same in order to tighten the apron so as to draw the bight tightly around the bunch will always, to a greater or less degree, disturb .the shape of the filler-tobacco, and `will usually twist the same, as well as the binder-leaf; and when an elastic apron is used `there is a tendency on the part of the `machine to throw the fillertobacco from the pocket upon the first rearward movement of the bunching-roller to close the pocket; but all these difficulties are overcome simply by allowing the forward end of the apron to move rearward with the bunching-roller as the pocket is being closed.

It is evident that many changes in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the severalparts of my improved cigar-bunching machine other than those mentioned may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself to any particular construction thereof; but,

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, its construct-ion and operation, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a cigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a rolling-table, of a frame moving to and fro, a bunching-roller carried by the frame, an elastic bunch-rolling-apron, a pivoted holder or clamp II secured to the forward end of the apron and adapted to be rocked rearward during the closing of the bight by the friction of the apron upon the bunching-ro1ler, a clamp or holder for the rear end of the apron, and means for actuating both of the clamps or holders after the bight is closed, so as to draw upon both ends of the apron, so as to tighten and stretch the same, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a cigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a rolling-table, of a frame moving to and fro, a bunching-roller carried by the frame, an elastic bunch-rolling apron, a pivoted holderor clamp H secured to the forward end of the apron, a connecting-rod K secured to the clamp H and having a slot 33, a bolt or pin 34 located in the slot 33, and mechanism in actuating connection with the said frame for moving the pin 34, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a cigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a rollin g-table, of a frame moving to and fro, a bunching-roller carried by the frame, au elastic 'bunch-rolling-apron, a pivoted holder or clamp I secured to the rear end of the apron, a connecting-rod L secured to the said frame, and a pin passing'through an elongated slot in the rod L connecting such rod with the holder or clamp I, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a cigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a rolling-table, of a frame moving to and fro, a bunching-roller carried by the frame, an elastic bunch-rolling-apron, a pivoted holder or clamp H secured to the forward end of the apron, a connecting-rod K secured to the clamp H and having a slot 33, a pivoted holder or clamp I secured to the rear end of v the apron, a bolt or pin 34 passing through connecting the holders or clamps H and I, and a slotted connecting-rod L forming connection between one-of said `clamps and the said frame, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a cigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a rolling-table, of a frame moving to and fro, a bunching-roller, an elastic bunchrolling-apron, clamps or holders H and I secured to the two ends of the apron, a connecting-rod K having a slot 33 connecting the holders or clamps H and I, and mechanism for forming an actuating connection between the said frame and the clamps or holders, sub stantially as shown and described.

7. In a cigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a frame moving to and fro and having a slot 44, of an elastic bunch-rollingapron, a clamp or holder secured to one end of the apron, a connecting-rod L secured to the clamp or holder by a sliding connection, and a bolt or pin 4l adj ustably secured in the slot 44 in the said frame forming a pivot for the other end of the rod L, substantially as shown and described. v

8. In acigar-bunching-machine, the combination with a rolling-table, of a frame moving to and fro, a bunching-roller carried by the frame, an elastic-bunch-rolling-apron, a pivoted holder or clamp H secured to the forward end of the apron and adapted to be rocked rearward during the closing of the bight by the friction of the apron upon the bunchingroller, and means for drawing upon the rear end of the apron so as to tighten and stretch the same in advance of the bight after the same is closed, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, this 11th day of April, A. D. 1895.

JOSEPH DELA MAR.

Witnesses:

MARY H. FAIRCHILD, J. NUSSBLATT. 

